Tommy Mottola Explained

Tommy Mottola should not be confused with Tony Mottola.

Tommy Mottola
Birth Name:Thomas Daniel Mottola
Birth Date:14 July 1948
Birth Place:The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
Children:4
Honours:Hollywood Walk of Fame, Recording (2019)
Known For:Former Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Entertainment
Spouse(S):
    • Chairman, Mottola Media Group
    • Cofounder, Ntertain Studios
    • Founding Partner, Range Media Partners

    Thomas Daniel Mottola (born July 14, 1948)[1] is an American businessman, record executive, television producer, theater producer, film producer, investor, and serial entrepreneur. Mottola is Chairman of Mottola Media Group, cofounder of Ntertain Studios, founding partner of Range Media Partners, and was Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, parent of the Columbia label, for nearly 15 years.[2] Since 2000, he has been married to Mexican actress and singer Thalía.

    Early life

    Mottola was born in The Bronx to a middle-class Italian-American family. He graduated from Iona Grammar School in 1962 and Iona Prep in 1966. He attended military school for a time, and then high school. After dropping out of Hofstra University on Long Island, he pursued a music career as a guitarist and singer with The Exotics, an R&B cover band. Book: Hitmaker: The Man and His Music.

    Mottola entered the music scene in the mid-1960s as a recording artist for CBS Records, under the name "T.D. Valentine". After his attempt to become a recording star himself failed, Mottola started working for publishing powerhouse Chappell Publishing and started his own management company, Champion Entertainment Organization. His role at Chappell put him in touch with many artists, and soon he signed his first successful management clients, Daryl Hall & John Oates. Mottola helped Hall and Oates land a record deal and several high-profile endorsements.

    Mottola managed the black-rock group Xavion successfully using new media for promotion, such as music videos and corporate sponsorship for music tours.

    Sony/Columbia

    In 1988, Mottola was hired by Sony Music (then known as CBS Records) by Walter Yetnikoff to run its U.S. operations. In 1990, he replaced Yetnikoff as Chairman CEO of the newly named Sony Music. While Mottola was at Sony Music, Sony expanded its businesses into over sixty countries and became the first major music company to make commercial digital downloads available. By the year 2000, Sony had over $6 billion in annual revenue.[3]

    He is well known among music industry professionals for signing Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Destiny's Child, Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, Shakira, and the Dixie Chicks, as well as for releasing digitally remastered compact discs of older recordings made by Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Andy Williams, Pink Floyd among others.[4] [5]

    He also worked with Michael Jackson from the time he began recording his Dangerous album. During the promotion of Jackson's album Invincible in 2001, Jackson later stated that his relationship with Mottola dissolved based on corruption in Mottola's working practices and accused him of being a "racist who exploited black talent". Jackson would later state that "the recording companies really, really do conspire against the artists."[6] Later, Jackson, who an advisor said could be paranoid, reportedly kept an "enemy list" on which Mottola appeared, along with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, illusionist Uri Geller, attorney Gloria Allred, DA Tom Sneddon, and Janet Arvizo, mother of a Jackson accuser.[7] Al Sharpton told the New York Post shortly after that, "I have known Tommy for 15 or 20 years, and never once have I known him to say or do anything that would be considered racist." He admitted he was "taken aback and surprised" by Jackson's remarks. "In fact, he's always been supportive of the black music industry," Sharpton said. "He was the first record executive to step up and offer to help us with respect to corporate accountability when it comes to black music issues."[8]

    After Sony

    Mottola was the head of Sony Music Entertainment until January 2003. Since leaving his post as chief of Sony Music, Mottola has been building a new entertainment company, complete with recorded music, television production, theater, and fashion, alongside a branding and management company that had recently launched. He was instrumental in re-launching the various careers of such artists as Marc Anthony and Lindsay Lohan.[9] Later signings included Cassie Ventura and Mika.[10]

    Mottola, in a joint venture with Universal Music Group, revived the fabled Casablanca Records, signing such diverse artists as Lindsay Lohan and Mika.[11]

    Mottola published a book titled Hitmaker in January 2013, which he co-wrote with Cal Fussman.[12]

    Mottola Media Group

    Under Mottola Media Group, founded in 2003 after his departure from Sony, Mottola has gone on to produce several project, including the recent musical adaptation of Chazz Palminteri's A Bronx Tale. Palminteri credits Mottola with the realization of the new project, developed over the past two years. Mottola brought the idea for A Bronx Tale musical to producing partner Dodger Properties and "put the musical on his back".[13] The show officially opened on Broadway in December 2016 and closed on August 5, 2018. A national tour in Los Angeles began in October 2018 at the Pantages Theatre.[14]

    Mottola alongside Dodger Properties produced several other musicals such as Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (2017), Jersey Boys (Off Broadway) and Ground Hog Day.

    In 2018, Mottola's Mottola Media signed a multi-year first look deal with eOne to develop scripted and unscripted TV.[15]

    Mottola created and produced documentaries for HBO entitled The Latin Explosion: A New America (2015) and 15: A Quinceanera Story, which garnered a DGA nomination.

    NTERTAIN Studios

    In March 2021, Mottola, along with Neon16 CEO and Co-founder Lex Borrero, and representation firm Range Media Partners formed NTERTAIN Studios – an entertainment and media company that creates, develops and produces content across multiple mediums, highlighting Latino stories and representing Latino talent, brands and culture.[16]

    Current productions include Los Montaners for Disney+ (renewed[17] for a second season), Thalia's Mixtape: El Soundtrack de Mi Vida for Paramount+, La Firma (The Signing) and Neon for Netflix.

    Recently, a strategic partnership[18] was established with Audio Up Media. This collaboration is focused on developing and acquiring original content across various media verticals, with an emphasis on Latino podcast programming.

    NTERTAIN is based in Miami with Mottola and Borrero heading the company in partnership with Peter Micelli, CEO of Range Media Partners.[16]

    Personal life

    Mottola has been married three times. He converted to Judaism to marry his first wife, Lisa Clark, daughter of ABC Records head Sam Clark, in 1971. The couple divorced in 1990, after having two children.

    On June 5, 1993, Mottola married his second wife, Mariah Carey. They announced their separation on May 30, 1997,[19] and later divorced on March 5, 1998.He married his third wife, Thalía, on December 2, 2000, at New York City's St. Patrick's Cathedral.[20] Their daughter was born in October 2007,[21] and their son was born in June 2011.[22]

    Awards and Recognitions

    In popular culture

    Written works

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Tommy Mottola Biography: Business Leader (1948–). Biography.com (FYI / A&E Networks) . December 8, 2020 . March 20, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140320153641/http://www.biography.com/people/tommy-mottola-20702737 . dead.
    2. News: Sony picks NBC president to replace Tommy Mottola . . . January 10, 2003 . May 25, 2010 . October 26, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121026111326/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2003-01-10-sony-lack_x.htm . live.
    3. Web site: Thompson . Simon . Tommy Mottola And His Plans To Do For Latino-Focused TV What He's Done For Latin Music . 2024-01-30 . Forbes . en.
    4. Web site: Eaton . Phoebe . 2003-02-21 . Tommy Mottola Faces The Music - Nymag . 2024-04-04 . New York Magazine . en.
    5. Staff . Billboard . 2004-08-05 . Mottola To Build 'The Wall' On Broadway . 2024-04-05 . Billboard.
    6. Web site: Michael Jackson Shocks Al Sharpton By Calling Tommy Mottola A Racist . Jennifer . Vineyard . 8 July 2002 . . August 10, 2011 . December 24, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111224182611/http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1455976/20020708/jackson_michael.jhtml.
    7. Web site: Uri Geller, Shmuley Boteach are on Michael Jackson's 'list of enemies'. Haaretz. September 18, 2009.
    8. Web site: Jacko Got Off-Tracko, Rev. Al Says . Jeane . MacIntosh . 8 July 2002 . . June 8, 2018 .
    9. Web site: Lohan to testify in mother's case.. ContactMusic.come . . August 4, 2006 . June 24, 2015. June 24, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150624145709/http://www.contactmusic.com/lindsay-lohan/news/lohan-to-testify-in-mothers-case_1004424 . live.
    10. Web site: Tommy Mottola, Hitmaker, Takes Today . . January 29, 2013 . April 21, 2016.
    11. Web site: Hautman . Nicholas . 2019-06-21 . Lindsay Lohan Signs Record Deal, 'Already Finished a Few Songs' . 2024-04-06 . Us Weekly . en-US.
    12. Tommy Mottola on Relationship With Mariah Carey: 'Absolutely Wrong and Inappropriate' . . January 31, 2013 . April 21, 2016.
    13. Web site: A New Chapter in 'A Bronx Tale' . . August 26, 2015 . April 21, 2016.
    14. Web site: A Bronx Tale Closes on Broadway August 5 . Playbill.com . August 5, 2018 . August 22, 2018.
    15. Web site: Tommy Mottola Inks First-Look Deal With eOne, Sets 'Harlem High' At Freeform . deadline.com . October 23, 2018 . November 27, 2018.
    16. Web site: Villafañe. Veronica. Music Execs Lex Borrero, Tommy Mottola And Rep Firm Range Media Partners Launch Ntertain To Create Latino-Themed Content. 2021-03-31. Forbes. en.
    17. Web site: NTERTAIN'S LOS MONTANER PICKED UP FOR SEASON 2 . 2024-01-26 . HITS Daily Double . en.
    18. Web site: Garcia . Thania . 2023-05-22 . Ntertain Studios Partners With Audio Up to Launch Original Latin Podcast Programming and More (EXCLUSIVE) . 2024-01-26 . Variety . en-US.
    19. Web site: Swan Song . Steve . Doughterty . . June 16, 1997 . June 24, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924154111/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20122408,00.html . September 24, 2015 .
    20. News: Thalía is pregnant! . . June 12, 2007 . The couple was married on Dec. 2, 2000 in New York. . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091106100743/http://www.peopleenespanol.com/pespanol/en/articles/0,22490,1722075_1632035,00.html . November 6, 2009 . The article appears in English. NOTE: The U.S. edition of People gives the wedding date as October 11, 1997: News: Music Mogul Marries. Stephen M.. Silverman. October 13, 1997. People. June 24, 2015.
    21. Web site: Thalía and Tommy Mottola welcome daughter Sabrina Sakaë . People . October 8, 2007 . June 24, 2015 . June 26, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150626152430/http://celebritybabies.people.com/2007/10/08/thalia-and-tomm/ . dead .
    22. News: Thalía Welcomes Son Matthew Alejandro. People. June 25, 2011. June 24, 2015. June 25, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150625194104/http://celebritybabies.people.com/2011/06/25/thalia-welcomes-son-matthew-alejandro/. dead.
    23. Web site: Pollack . Marc . NO DOUBTING THOMAS . 2024-01-26 . HITS Daily Double . en.
    24. Web site: Robert De Niro, Sophia Loren & Tommy Mottola Honored at the NIAF 27th Anniversary . 2024-01-26 . The National Italian American Foundation.
    25. Web site: Trakin . Roy . 2019-10-10 . Tommy Mottola: From the Bronx to the Boardroom to the Hollywood Walk of Fame . 2024-01-26 . Variety . en-US.
    26. Web site: Hall & Oates smdAlbums. starpulse.com.
    27. Web site: Mottola and Music. Los Angeles Times. 1990-03-04.
    28. Web site: Yacht Rock . Yacht Rock . March 23, 2011 . March 9, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110309041823/http://www.yachtrock.com/ . dead .
    29. Web site: Up your catalog, dog, mine's worth too much / Like Mike Jacks ATV pub, Mottola can't touch / Let this bitch breathe! . 2024-01-26 . Genius.

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